Joanna Wietrzyk has marked her return to HYROX competition with victory in Hamburg, winning the opening event of the new season just weeks after becoming the focus of an international backlash.
The 24-year-old Australian endurance athlete made global headlines last month after continuing to compete at a HYROX race in Beijing despite suffering bowel incontinence during the event.
Wietrzyk crossed the finish line first, but later forfeited her points. Video showing her continuing through the course while faecal matter ran down her legs—and using equipment shared by other competitors—spread rapidly online.
Organisers apologised after the incident. Wietrzyk initially defended her decision to carry on racing, but issued her own apology earlier this week.
She described the backlash as ‘traumatic’, saying she had faced personal abuse while acknowledging that she should not have remained in the race.
She told the BBC: ‘It was a very sudden experience. It wasn’t until about halfway through the race where everything did transpire.
Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to race after soiling herself during a HYROX event and has now returned to win the opening race of the new season in Hamburg
Wietrzyk regrets a now-deleted Instagram post published after the race that included the phrase ‘go hard or go home’ (source: joannawietrzyk/Instagram)
‘In that moment, right then and there, as a very competitive person… and an elite athlete that I am, my only focus is on racing. Obviously I did put other people at risk.’
She added: ‘Yes, I did make the wrong decision but I don’t believe I should have received such backlash and such scrutiny online. At the end of the day I’m only human.’
Wietrzyk also expressed regret over an early social media post that featured the phrases ‘Go hard or go home’ and ‘a win is a win’. She said she was in ‘fight or flight mode’ while seeking medical treatment at hospital.
‘I didn’t really account for what the public would have seen that situation as.’
Asked whether her apology was intended to limit the damage, Wietrzyk said she had not anticipated the level of attention the incident would attract.
‘I needed those days to reflect on it and process it.’
Discussing the mindset of elite competitors, she said: ‘They’re so hyper-vigilant on winning and doing the best that they can, putting their training to good use and showcasing their fitness to the world.’
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After taking time to consider what happened, she said: ‘There is more to life… than just racing and just winning.’
Before Friday’s race, Wietrzyk admitted she was ‘nervous’ about returning and hoped the Beijing incident would not become the defining feature of her career.
‘I don’t want it to become my identity,’ she said.
The controversy also prompted questions about hygiene, possible contamination and how quickly the competition responded to the incident.
HYROX said the affected lanes were isolated, contaminated equipment was taken out of use, and cleaning and carpet replacement were completed overnight before racing resumed.
HYROX China has also reportedly refunded entry fees to some competitors.
After Wietrzyk’s name was circulated online, HYROX warned that anyone sending abuse or threats to the athlete would be banned from future events.
Her coach, Chris Bayens, defended her against the online attacks while accepting that the decisions made during the race could be examined.
‘Decisions were made under competition conditions by an athlete, judges and officials, all responding to a situation none of them could reasonably have prepared for,’ he wrote on Instagram.
Before her return, Wietrzyk said she was ‘super excited’ to step back onto the race floor and do what she loves (source: joannawietrzyk/Instagram)
‘It is very easy to construct the perfect response once the moment has passed. Hindsight gives people time, information and distance that simply did not exist for those actually living it.’
Bayens urged the public to separate legitimate criticism of what happened from personal attacks directed at the athlete.
‘Sport occasionally produces moments that are imperfect and deeply human,’ he said. ‘Discussion is legitimate. The hatred and personal attacks that have followed are not.’
HYROX features eight one-kilometre runs alongside eight functional workout stations, including sled pushes, rowing, sandbag lunges and medicine ball throws.
The event was launched in Germany in 2017 and has since expanded internationally. The 2026-27 season will feature races in London, Bangkok, Las Vegas and Lyon following the opening meeting in Hamburg.
